Cuitibá
Cuiabá is the capital city of Mato Grosso, Brazil and is also known as the Gateway to Amazonas. The gold rush which took place during the 18th century was crucial to the town´s foundation. Besides the miners who came in large numbers, the surrounding area proved to be good for cattle raising and plant cultivation.
Located in the central South America, the area has been inhabited by a number of indigenous tribes and it is no wonder that their culture along with the culture of the Portuguese and African settlers and is interwined in the city`s architecture and traditions.
Besides old city center, Cuiabá is known for its tasty cuisine, music, dance and of course craftwork.
The old city center is proud to be protected as Brazil Historic Heritage and a traveler may be amazed by labirinth like streets built on purpose in order to confuse those in search of gold mines. This old part of the town lies on old gold mines and this is something you would never suspect since on its streets one can see large mansions built in Baroque and Neogothic styles.
Religion makes an important role in the lives of Cuiabá residents. Some of the most beautiful churches were built by slaves during the 18th century. A perfect example is the Nossa Senhora do Rosario and Capela Sao Benedito. There are many more churches within the city borders.
Cuiabá takes care of its history and is aware that museums are a perfect way to preserve it and show people its diversity. There are several museums exhibiting items pertaining to the indigenous people of the region. These are just some of them:
Museu do Rio
Museu Rondon do Indio
Museu Ramis Bucair ou Museu de Pedras
Museu de Arte e Cultura Popular da UFMT
Museu Historico
Museu do Pantanal
The city´s population is estimated to about one million inhabitants and it is no wonder that both locals as well as visitors feel in need to escape everydays` hustle and bustle of the city. Feeling peace and quiet is not something one has to search outside of the city because Cuiabá provides large parks, recreational areas as well as lookout points and entertainment gateways. In order to escape the bustling streets one can retreat on one of these beautiful spots: Park Massairo Okamura, Park Municipal Bonifacia, Park Ze Bolo Flo, among others.
Those in need to escape the city and explore its surrounding areas will most like visit the two nearby National Parks: The Chapada dos Guimaraes National Park and El Pantanal. The first one offers many waterfalls, amazing rock formations, marshlands and extraordinary lookout points. The second one is in fact a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and is located some 69 miles away from Cuiabá. El Pantanal is one of the world`s largest wetlands consisted of a network of rives and lagoons connected to each other.
